WrestleMania 33 Predictions

Image Source: Wikipedia

Written By: Mark Armstrong

It's the biggest day of the year in the wrestling calendar. The day that fans look forward to the most, and the day that the wrestlers themselves strive towards through years of hard work and perseverance. For some, the goal is to triumph in one of the main event matches and create a timeless moment; for others, just getting there and appearing on the show in any spot is a major achievement in its own right. It's WrestleMania, and WM 33 looks set to be one of the most memorable in a long time with many matches that are either culminating long storylines and feuds, have the potential to create jaw-dropping moments or are simply contenders to steal the show from an in-ring standpoint.

As is tradition, I have listed my match predictions for each bout below, whilst providing some context as to why the matches are happening and why certain results seem more obvious than others. I've also added in some thoughts as to what may be the standout moment of the night, and what (if any) surprises we may get in the process.

Kick-Off Show

1. Neville vs. Austin Aries (Cruiserweight Championship)

Although this is now on the Kick-Off Show, fans are expecting this to be a potential show-stealer, and for good reason, as everyone knows that both men can deliver a pretty thrilling encounter. Pitted against one another, and as the first representation of cruiserweight action in WWE at WrestleMania since WM XX, both will be desperate to shine. This has been set up pretty well, with Aries - previously on NXT, but a well-travelled and well-respected competitor in ROH and TNA before then - morphing from the cruiserweight division's colour commentator to rival and contender for Neville, the self-proclaimed King Of The Cruiserweights, who has shone since turning heel at Roadblock and capturing the purple title at Royal Rumble.

Neville winning wouldn't be a major surprise at all, but I am expecting an Aries win and therefore a title change, so that the night's festivities kick off (sorry for the pun) with a bang. I just hope that the stadium is fairly full when WWE sends these two out to the ring to avoid the almost-empty venue feel to Kalisto vs. Ryback from last year.

Prediction: Austin Aries

2. Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal

This simply has to be a victory for Braun Strowman. Big Show doesn't need the win again, despite the disappointment of his match with Shaq not happening. Sami Zayn would be a good choice as a runner-up, teasing that he could pull off a massive upset by eliminating familiar foe Braun. But nothing should stop Strowman here, who has surpassed expectations in his monster heel run on Raw.

The alternative is that a surprise entrant wins this one, just like Baron Corbin did when he unexpectedly appeared on behalf of NXT and claimed the win last year. With this being on the Kick-Off Show, however, any surprises would likely be minimal, so I'm going for the safe bet by picking BRRRAAAUUUNNNNNN!

Prediction: Braun Strowman

Main Show

1. The Club vs. Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Enzo Amore & Big Cass (Raw Tag Team Championship Ladder Match)

This match will probably open the main card, since Enzo & Cass excel in the role of getting an already-hot crowd fired up by being the first wrestlers out of the curtain. There hasn't really been a story to this one, except for the obvious: Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson have the titles, and Sheamus & Cesaro and Enzo & Cass want them.

This is now a Ladder match, which raises the possibility of a certain ladder-obsessed tag team making a grand return to WWE. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this will happen because, let's face it, this three-team rivalry very suddenly added ladders to the fray on Raw last Monday, for no real reason. With The New Day as hosts, it's possible that they will use their "power" (of positivity?) to add Matt and Jeff Hardy to this match, leading to a huge Mania moment and a Hardyz reunion. Some may be desperate to see "Broken" Matt, legal issues notwithstanding, but whichever version (no pun intended) that we get, I'm expecting the Hardyz to deliver a standout WrestleMania moment of the night, should they make a return that fans are absolutely desperate to see.

Prediction: The Hardyz

2. SmackDown Women's Championship Match

The story hasn't been very in-depth for this bout, either, since the goal seems to be solely for the females involved to have their Mania moment, which is understandable. Having been announced for the main card, and then moved to the Kick-Off Show, this is now back on the PPV due to fan pressure, which has to be considered a good thing.

I still don't expect it to be given much time, nor much in the way of storyline advancement, although the return of several females to WWE has been hinted at fairly strongly. Nevertheless, I still think that Alexa Bliss will win, and defend her title against former ally Mickie James (or the returning-from-injury Naomi) in the weeks to come.

Prediction: Alexa Bliss

3. Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin (Intercontinental Championship)

Set up by various Corbin attacks on Ambrose dating back to Elimination Chamber, including the Lone Wolf basically dropping a forklift pallet across Dean's chest and throat, this should be a decent if uneventful mid-card clash for the Intercontinental crown.

I see no reason for Dean to win this; although Baron hasn't yet reached his full potential, Corbin would benefit most from winning this match, without question. I could see Ambrose winning and Corbin capturing the IC gold at a later date, but all things considered, this has to be Baron's night to shine, and giving him a second major WrestleMania victory at that.

Prediction: Baron Corbin

4. John Cena & Nikki Bella vs. The Miz & Maryse

Despite some great promos to set this one up, the match still seems like a waste of Cena, who still has plenty to offer WWE. The match itself will be okay, but it's bizarre that a Cena match at WrestleMania should feel like filler, as this one does. The other problem is that, although Cena has delivered some fantastic promos to set this up, he and Nikki remain unlikeable as a couple, meaning that fans can't root for them as much as WWE would like. Let's face it, there is definitely an element of truth to the insinuation that the Bellas' careers were advanced due to their relationships with Cena and Daniel Bryan; hell, Brie and Nikki had actually left WWE to little attention in 2012, before Total Divas featuring said relationships made them big stars from 2013 onwards.

There have been whispers about Cena proposing to Nikki, for real, after the match (which I assume the babyfaces will win). It'd make for a memorable Mania moment if this happened, even if their relationship is more of an annoyance (at least when it comes to Nikki) than heartwarming entertainment.

Prediction: John Cena & Nikki Bella

5. AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon

A match which was universally hated when first announced, supposedly in the storyline for Styles to get on the WM card (would he have been left off it?), AJ vs. Shane has since raised excitement levels due to the fact that, in all likelihood, we're going to be treated to some sort of insane stunt by Shane O Mac, given that we've already seen the announcer's-table-elbow to Styles on SmackDown. Given the presence of a mock rollercoaster for the aisleway, there is real intrigue (and concern, to be fair) as to what Shane will almost certainly leap off. It may not be as good - actually, it wouldn't have been as good - as an AJ vs. Shawn Michaels bout which HBK says he was offered and declined, but it'll still be plenty of fun.

An AJ victory seems certain, although WWE may swerve the audience and deliver a Shane win. However, there's no justification for this, especially if McMahon does deliver an unforgettable stunt, and the fans are desperate for AJ to turn babyface, anyway. Look for Shane to win here, and AJ to go face at SmackDown two nights later.

Prediction: AJ Styles

6. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte vs. Nia Jax (Raw Women's Championship Elimination Match)

This match will now be contested under elimination rules, which throws an element of doubt over the result since it will be harder for WWE to protect, say, Nia Jax if three of the ladies have to lose in some form. In the case of Jax, I don't think it is her time to become champion, yet, and we've seen Charlotte holding the title enough over the last 18 months, even though she is arguably the best all-round female talent in WWE.

That leaves Bayley and Sasha, who could deliver a superb final section of the match. Given that a Sasha heel turn is almost a certainty, I am expecting one of two things: Sasha will either turn heel on Bayley en route to winning the title, or Banks will go rogue on Bayley the next night on Raw in response to a Bayley win here. I'm picking the latter, and Bayley will have her WrestleMania moment whilst building a feud with the heel-turning Sasha.

Prediction: Bayley

7. Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens (United States Championship)

The best friends turned bitter rivals are set to pay off a really good storyline, which began way back in the summer, as Jeri-KO formed shortly before SummerSlam, and really blossomed once Owens captured the Universal Championship. Given the talent that the two men possess, this has the potential to be one of the card's stronger encounters. I actually don't see this being a five-star epic unless they're given a good 25-30 minutes, which is unlikely, but I do believe that fans will be well into this one and that the performances will match the atmosphere.

I'm expecting a Jericho win here. A victory for KO may seem smarter in the long run, but WWE likes to deliver at least one surprise outcome, and this match is most likely to receive that treatment. It also allows the feud to continue for another month, when Owens will win and probably sideline Jericho to end his latest WWE tenure.

Prediction: Chris Jericho

8. Seth Rollins vs. Triple H (Unsanctioned Match)

This match was in jeopardy due to another injury for Rollins, which must have concerned WWE (and obviously the two participants) since the seeds were sown back in August for a match that has been years in the making. Fortunately, Seth recovered just in time for Mania, having missed the show last year, although it was only truly confirmed this past week on Raw. I'm expecting this to be a really exciting brawl, with plenty of weapons-based spots, and almost certainly a Pedigree through an announcer's table for one of the combatants. I expect a returning Finn Balor to combat Samoa Joe at ringside, allowing Rollins to not be deterred by beating HHH. He may break out the old Curb Stomp as a way to consign his use of the Pedigree to history, though it seems unlikely at present.

It's worth wondering if this will be HHH's final match. Although he can still go in the ring, he'll be 48 this year, he has no other obvious opponents to face in the future and, having gone part-time in 2011, he's even admitted that he'd like to retire. This might be the way for The Game to officially be declared over.

Prediction: Seth Rollins

9. The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns

This clash, which will decide "who runs the yard", will either mark a truly major moment in history, or it will breed massive outrage. If the scuttlebutt is to be believed, Reigns will almost certainly be winning this match, which would not only reduce the impact of Brock Lesnar ending The Streak at WM XXX, but for highly unpopular babyface Reigns to hand Taker his second Mania defeat, even at this point, would be a disaster. Even if the match is a classic (and I think it will be good, but not that good), no fan will truly accept that scenario should WWE deliver it.

Only a Roman heel turn (which has been teased) could make this acceptable, but if rumours of this being Taker's last match are true, would he really want to go out on a screwjob-style finish? It's a dumpster fire scenario, which is why I think Taker should win. On paper, Reigns should be victorious, but unless he goes heel in the process, I can't imagine how WWE can successfully present this outcome.  I am going to predict a Roman win, but unless he goes heel, I'd sooner see Taker come out on top. If nothing else, all eyes will be on this match.

Prediction: Roman Reigns

10. Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton (WWE Championship)

The storyline for this match, initially just another feud, has been brilliant. Orton unexpectedly joined The Wyatt Family and took his time to earn Bray's full trust so that he could completely destroy it from within, which includes torching the Wyatt compound in spectacular fashion. All of which sets the table nicely for this WWE Championship match.

I believe Wyatt will win this match, with help from a reunited Family. Putting the title on Orton would achieve nothing at this point, and a controversial finish allows for a rematch in the future. Wyatt needs the win and he should get it, albeit with assistance. The bout should be a good one, although I can't envision it being the match of the night.

Prediction: Bray Wyatt

11. Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar (Universal Championship)

Unlike some people, I've loved the set-up for this: Lesnar, the dominant beast, runs into another dominant beast in Goldberg, leading to his destruction and Goldberg being the one foe who can stop Brock. Goldberg couldn't have been booked better during this unexpected comeback run, in stark contrast to his initial WWE tenue. That being said, Lesnar has to win this one, having been portrayed as second-best to Goldberg after being the unstoppable Beast Incarnate for so long. Besides, this match marks the end of Goldberg's current WWE run, so Brock is a dead cert to become WWE Universal Champion.

As for the match itself, I'm expecting it to live up to expectations and to be a 10-15 minute smash-mouth brawl. Far from another 90-second scrap (although I think they will tease as such with a close false finish at the very beginning), I think this will pleasantly surprise people and may be unexpectedly violent and bloody. Indeed, their big-name stardom won't be the only reason why this match will likely go on last.

As stated, although I can understand fan resentment surrounding the match and its high stakes, I've actually really enjoyed this feud because it has been unpredictable, exciting, fresh and believable, and it has played to the strengths of the two characters, whilst making Lesnar vulnerable yet still intimidating. If the fans in Orlando give it a chance, I'm confident that it will succeed.

Prediction: Brock Lesnar

Miscellaneous

The other things to ponder about the show are the possible surprises. It's all been quiet regarding The Rock, but he has made unannounced appearances at Mania before. I am expecting him to appear in some form, even if it's via a pre-taped video. Kurt Angle will definitely appear alongside his fellow Hall Of Fame inductees, though I don't see his participation at Mania extending beyond this (I do see him re-entering the storylines proper on Raw, perhaps by becoming the new Raw GM). Any NXT call-ups will likely be on Raw and SmackDown, having become a trend of sorts over the last few years. Finally, I am going out on a limb and predicting a surprise return for Hulk Hogan, possibly in a backstage cameo and nothing more; I feel that fans are ready for Hulk to return, and with Hogan living in Florida (and having conveniently opened a shop in Orlando this week), the timing couldn't be better for Hulkamania to resurface.

As for what the moment of the night will be? I'm predicting that it comes from Reigns vs. Undertaker, whether that be due to a Roman heel turn, Undertaker officially retiring or simply the result. The probably explosive nature of Goldberg vs. Lesnar, the possible Cena proposal for Nikki and the potential comeback for the Hardyz in the Ladder match would be the other stand-out moments. Add to that the other possible returns, the Kurt Angle appearance and, of course, the matches which have the potential to be very good or better, as well as the probable red-hot crowd in Orlando and the stunning Citrus Bowl setting, complete with the theme park-esque stage, and you have the makings of one hell of a show.

Summary

Though some will disagree, I've really enjoyed the build-up to this year's WrestleMania. Easily beating the hype for WM 32, a show which admittedly struggled in part due to injuries, the Road To WM 33 has included several long-running and well-booked stories, a few surprises (especially on the SmackDown side), comebacks, injuries, title changes, swerves, turns and more. The card is as strong as one could realistically expect, even if you could mix and match a couple of names to deliver a truly mouth-watering line-up.

It's a demonstration of the power of WrestleMania that almost every U.S. and U.K. promotion of note has held shows in and around Orlando this week, solely to capitalise on the buzz of WM. And I'm confident that WrestleMania 33 will be one of the better Manias, if not a top-five WM show. There are so many questions that will be answered, there's the potential for some truly big surprise returns, and we're certain to witness some career-defining results and moments amongst a plethora of great performances by a roster containing many names which will either be making their Mania debuts, making their WWE returns or possibly making their career farewells.

It's the biggest night of the year, and the one prediction I am making is that WrestleMania 33 will live up to the major hype, and possibly even surpass it.

Ranking Every WrestleMania From Worst To Best

Image Source: Wikipedia

Written By: Mark Armstrong

It's WrestleMania Season again! With WrestleMania 33 almost upon us, it's worth considering which WrestleMania events, to date, have been the best or indeed the worst, which is why I have provided my own personal rankings of every WrestleMania so far. I'm taking a few factors into account when ranking these from worst to best: historical significance, entertainment, the quality of the wrestling, and anything else which added or detracted from any of the 32 Manias so far. As ever, this is only my opinion, so alternative viewpoints are welcome. Nevertheless, here goes!

32. WrestleMania XI

Why is WM XI at the bottom of the list? Firstly, a non-wrestler wins the main event against a mid-carder. Secondly, the WWF Title match didn't feel big enough to warrant that position, even though it doesn't go on last. Thirdly, Bret Hart's match with Bob Backlund was a poor choice of opponent for the Hitman, with Bret himself saying that he hated the match. Add to that some under-card filler and the generally second-rate feel compared to even the last couple of Manias beforehand (even one of the ring aprons didn't bother making the trip), and you can understand why Bret also stated this was the worst WWF PPV ever up to that point. Some of the matches aren't bad; in fact, both of the top two encounters are good. But in terms of delivering what fans expected from a WrestleMania, even back in 1995, WM XI flatlined, and is easily the worst of the whole lot for me.

31. WrestleMania 2

The in-ring action at WM XI was better than it is here, so technically WM 2 was actually the worst of the bunch. But the WWF wrestling product had advanced greatly in the preceding nine years, which explains the gaps in quality. Plus, WM 2 isn't all bad, with some decent bouts sprinkled between the, well, garbage. And it delivered on a mainstream level with Mr. T returning to box Roddy Piper, and the WWF-NFL battle royal. The three cities idea for the location is neat, too, although it's never been repeated since. Otherwise, though, WM 2 is the sort of show that you watch to get yourself drowsy, rather than a spectacle worthy of being the year's best.

30. WrestleMania IV

Imagine a WrestleMania where you feel like you're in a hotel, drifting in and out between matches, returning when something peaks your interest, and being on hand when the big moment is finally achieved. That's WM IV in a nutshell (almost literally, since it was held in Trump Plaza). Due to the WWF Title tournament, there's a lot of matches, but most of them aren't very good, and even the Randy Savage-Ted DiBiase main event is fairly basic. It's not without its charm: it includes Ultimate Warrior's Mania debut, Hulk-Andre II and a babyface turn for Bret Hart, who would later become The Man in the WWF. But try watching WM IV in its entirety and you'll consider it to be an impossible task.

29. WrestleMania 2000

When putting together a list like this, some entries near the bottom of the pile have to be considered a tad unfair, especially when ranking shows the calibre of WrestleMania. And since WM 2000 featured a very good Triangle Ladder Match and some strong action elsewhere, it's perhaps wrong that this, by the definition of the article, is considered the fourth-worst Mania ever. But the line-up suffered due to Steve Austin and The Undertaker being sidelined, the show had its cock-ups (most notably at the end of the Hardcore Battle Royal), and the swerve of The Rock not becoming WWF Champion worked in the short-term (since Backlash 2000 made a ton of money), but not in the long-term, as few fans even remember this show today. It's one of the few Manias that doesn't spring to mind immediately when you think of particular years in WWF/WWE history.

28. WrestleMania XV

An Attitude Era special (or maybe a Vince Russo special), this was like a three-hour Raw instead of a WrestleMania, back when such a prospect would have been considered a good thing. The format worked at the time, in 1999, when the in-ring WWF product had taken a back seat. Watching it with a modern perspective, though, WM XV can't compare to those higher up on the list. Steve Austin vs. The Rock is the only really good match, although Shane McMahon vs. X-Pac exceeds expectations and the Hardcore three-way opener isn't bad. There's some cool moments during the show, too, such as Big Show turning babyface and Chyna turning face to reunite with Triple H before the both of them later turned heel. Also, Butterbean totally KO'ing Bart Gunn is compelling for all the wrong reasons. But there's too many filler, Raw-esque matches, and some bouts are horrendous (Sable vs. Tori is laughably bad, and The Undertaker vs. Big Boss Man is the worst Hell In A Cell match ever, capped off by Boss Man being hung after the match). It's a Mania which kind of succeeded at the time (and it was the most purchased wrestling PPV ever when it was first held), but as a WrestleMania, it doesn't hold up today. Austin-Rock I is a lot of fun, though.

27. WrestleMania 13

With the classic Bret Hart-Steve Austin Submission match and a chaotic Chicago Street Fight, you might wonder why WM 13 is only #27. That's because it just didn't feel like a WrestleMania. Some under-card matches were house show-level, the Tag Team Title match had a weird ending, and the main event was poor. Shawn Michaels messing up the WWF's plans by "losing his smile" certainly didn't help, and it looked more like a SummerSlam or a Royal Rumble than the biggest show of the year (a title which belonged to WCW Starrcade in 1997, which was a financial juggernaut but ultimately began the decline of WCW - but that's another story). It was an important show, no doubt (it was very important, in hindsight), but it was not a success, having drew the fewest number of PPV buy rates in the pre-Network era of any WM. Bret vs. Austin may have been great, but Mania 13 as a whole certainly was not.

26. WrestleMania I

It's arguably the poorest Mania of them all from an in-ring standpoint, but it's also the most important. Simply put, if the first WrestleMania hadn't succeeded, there not only would never have been a second Mania or a third Mania or so on, but the WWF would likely have collapsed amidst financial problems, and the wrestling industry would be very different today. Hell, there may not even still be a wrestling industry today. Fortunately, WM I succeeded, capped off by Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper and Mr. Wonderful in a match that had everybody talking, for positive reasons, at the time.

25. WrestleMania XXVII

The worst WrestleMania of the last fifteen years, WM XXVII did boast The Undertaker vs. Triple H, which told one of the best in-ring stories ever at Mania. But aside from this, and some of The Rock's cameos, the show was a let-down. The other stand-out matches were just okay or adequate, whilst other matches were either rushed or never had a hope of succeeding. Add to that the infuriating outcome to the gimmicky Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole bout, and a bizarre ending to the main event between The Miz and John Cena, and you have a Mania which felt more like an extended episode of Raw (I'm not trying to give WWE ideas) than the biggest show of the year. Taker vs. HHH was brilliant; everything else was thoroughly missable.

24. WrestleMania IX

I'll be honest: watching this for the first time at the age of four, I loved the surprise ending of Hulk Hogan capturing the WWF Title from new champion Yokozuna after he screwed my beloved Bret Hart, and so did many fans that day in Las Vegas, Nevada. Twenty-four years later, I fully understand why fans were outraged by this moment, and upset at there being precisely no matches that passed "good" on the entire show. But I can't rank WM IX too low because I loved the spectacle at the time, and who can diss the moment when we discovered that there were in fact two Doinks?

23. WrestleMania VI

Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior was a ginormous match for its time, and the prospect of two mega babyfaces colliding was relatively unheard of back then. Judged solely on this encounter, which exceeded expectations for the purists whilst being more than exciting for the die-hards, WM VI was a smash hit. The rest of the show is comprised of around 80% filler, which hurts it as an overall presentation. Mind you, it still had its moments aside from Hogan-Warrior, such as Andre The Giant's last hurrah, and Roddy Piper's bizarre decision to face Bad News Brown whilst painted half-black. The thought of that even being proposed, never mind delivered, in 2017 is unthinkable. Hogan-Warrior was great, mind you.

22. WrestleMania 32

On the surface, WM 32 being 22nd on the list is not a good sign. And it isn't. But WWE was dealing with a lot of injuries at the time which prevented the company promoting the top-calibre matches that a show in front of WWE's largest ever attendance deserved and, under the circumstances, it's hard to think of any viable alternatives to the show's three biggest matches. Plus, Shane McMahon's elbow off the Hell In A Cell was amazing, the under card had its moments, and the legend appearances were very entertaining. Nevertheless, a five-hour running time with a reduced cast, some head-scratching results, a disappointing brawl between Brock Lesnar and Dean Ambrose, the one-spot nature of Undertaker vs. Shane and the overwhelmingly negative reaction to Triple H vs. Roman Reigns, which negated a technically decent match, all compounded to make WM 32 seem like a poor show. I personally think some of the criticism was a bit harsh, but when ranking it amongst other WrestleManias, it has to sit in the bottom half overall.

21. WrestleMania XII

This sits so low because the Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels Iron Man match divides opinion so much. If you loved it, then this was a top-ten Mania. If you hated it - and bear in mind that from the promo videos and the entrances to the post-match scenes, this takes up nearly half of the show's running time - then this should sit near the very bottom. I've put it at this position as a compromise, and if you remove most of the first 35-40 minutes, then this would probably be remembered far more fondly. The return of The Ultimate Warrior was fun but, for those who study the inner workings of wrestling, it felt like a slap to the face. The Undertaker vs. Diesel was good, and Roddy Piper vs. Goldust was fun, but not enough to move this one further up the list.

20. WrestleMania VII

The Career match between The Ultimate Warrior and Macho Man Randy Savage, from an overall entertainment standpoint, was arguably the best Mania match prior to the beginning of the Attitude Era. Warrior delivered his best performance ever, Savage performed at a sky-high level once again, and the post-match scenes involving Savage, Sensational Sherri and Miss Elizabeth, culminating with a Savage-Elizabeth reunion, are incredible. Even though you know it's all predetermined, you can't help but either smile or clench your eyes to avoid releasing tears when Savage and Liz hug. The rest of the show is only decent (this show marks the beginning of The Streak, although nobody knew it back then). From a match standpoint, Warrior vs. Savage is the only top-drawer encounter - but what a match it was.

19. WrestleMania X8

If one match makes a WrestleMania, then WM X8 was tremendous. That's because The Rock vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan was a fantastic spectacle; for one night, the Attitude Era was forgotten and WWF fans brought us back to the 1980s, the heyday of Hulkamania. Generations collided in a match which from a technical standpoint was basic, but from an atmospheric and emotional standpoint was absolutely off the charts. Rock vs. Hogan was unforgettable, which is more than can be said for the rest of the show, hence its comparatively low rating.

18. WrestleMania XX

This should have been the best Mania ever. But Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar was something of a disaster, The Undertaker vs. Kane was a let-down from an in-ring standpoint, and The Rock 'N' Sock Connection vs. Evolution would have been more successful had it been held on any show not named WrestleMania. Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle was good, and the three-way main event was a very good match (I personally believe it was overrated, although I can acknowledge that it was a thriller). There were other enjoyable bouts scattered through this very long show, and some significant moments (Undertaker returning as The Phenom, John Cena's first title win, Mania debuts for Randy Orton and Batista), but overall WM XX sits this low because it so dramatically failed to meet its sky-high potential. Also, knowing what would happen in the future, it's impossible to look back upon the headline attraction to Mania XX with fondness these days, through no fault of WWE's.

17. WrestleMania 25

This show has a lot in common with WM X8: a one-match show, featuring some strange casting of the company's top names, some insignificant or rushed under card action, and a main event involving a babyface Triple H which was greeted with near-silence, making the show end on a flat note. This sits a little higher on the list because the standout match here was the classic first WM showdown between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, arguably the best Mania match of all-time. The Extreme Rules match was good, as was Money In The Bank, and Steve Austin's cameo was as fun as one would expect, but otherwise, the show was a disappointment. Mania 25 is remembered solely for Taker vs. Michaels, which admittedly was absolutely unbelievable.

16. WrestleMania 23

This Mania delivered several matches which would be comfortably described as four-star, but none which quite reached five-star status. Batista vs. The Undertaker just edged its rivals in delivering the match of the night, partly because few expected it to be so good. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels and Money In The Bank III were also well worth watching, and the Battle Of The Billionaires delivered the only feasible outcome (Vince McMahon being shaved bald) in entertaining fashion. This was also the return of WrestleMania to stadiums, and the tradition has not been halted since, and likely never will.

15. WrestleMania XIV

The official coronation of Steve Austin as the WWF's main man capped off the most important Mania in over a decade. Austin's vanquishing of Shawn Michaels would have been better had both men not suffered serious injuries in the preceding months, but few complained about the match quality on the night. The spectacle sold this one, largely thanks to the involvement of Mike Tyson. Plus, WM XIV featured the first meeting between The Undertaker and Kane, the pay-off to one of the company's best ever storylines. Some hard-hitting moments in the Dumpster match, some exciting action further down the card and the vibrant feel of the new Attitude product, along with historical significance, made this Mania a definite success.

14. WrestleMania VIII

Roddy Piper vs. Bret Hart and Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage were both great matches. The rest of the show, coming at a time when the WWF roster was changing in the aftermath of the company's first boom period ending, delivered more as a spectacle than from an in-ring standpoint, but few can forget the truly surprising return of The Ultimate Warrior at the end of the show, and consider that this was in 1992, long before social media and the Internet could cause such moments to be leaked in advance. I guess you could say that it was a fitting farewell to the Hulkamania era (Hogan's full-time WWF career ended here, and it seemed like his entire career had ended for a while too).

13. WrestleMania X

Mind you, it was topped two years later by a WrestleMania which featured not one but two classic battles. Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart was topnotch, and the Ladder match between Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels was incredible. The rest of the show was less notable wrestling-wise (Yokozuna vs. Lex Luger was possibly the worst WWF/WWE Title match at a WrestleMania ever), but with surprise returns for Roddy Piper and Mr. Perfect, some cool moments in the Randy Savage vs. Crush Falls Count Anywhere match, and the warm feel of the tenth anniversary celebrations, WM X was one of the high points during Mania's first decade, and it wouldn't be matched until the rise of a movement known as Attitude.

12. WrestleMania 29

The Undertaker vs. CM Punk was outstanding, and arguably the last truly classic Mania match to date. Although the familiar nature of the two main events and the identities of the participants soured opinion of the matches for many fans, Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar (despite the almost deathly quiet atmosphere) is still a powerful brawl, and The Rock vs. John Cena culminates their multi-year saga in fitting fashion. The under card highlight was the Mania debut of The Shield against Randy Orton, Sheamus and Big Show, and WM 29 delivered the largest Mania crowd in many years prior to a new record being set three years later by Mania 32. This was a show which one can appreciate more if you ignore the contributing factors and just take it for what it is.

11. WrestleMania V

Of the early Manias, WM V arguably delivers the fondest memories for longtime fans because it occurred at a time when the brightest characters of the Golden Age were either still going strong or rising up the ranks. Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan is the undisputed highlight, ending a fantastic storyline with a very enjoyable main event, Hogan's best Mania match ever from an in-ring standpoint. We also had fun action, colourful characters, surprises, title changes, returns, storyline conclusions and more across the lengthy under card. For those who watched the product during the Hulkamania era, WM V is a vintage show.

10. WrestleMania 22

Another example of a Mania which had several very good matches but no true classics, WM 22 had plenty for fans to savour. The stand-out match was a Hardcore war between Edge and Mick Foley, culminating with the most violent ending to a Mania bout ever. Elsewhere, John Cena vs. Triple H arguably marked Cena's true coronation as the Face Of WWE, in hindsight, and the second Money In The Bank Ladder match exceeded expectations. Despite its brevity, the World Heavyweight Championship three-way was also really good, and Shawn Michaels vs. Vince McMahon was undeniably entertaining. It couldn't compare to the previous year's Mania as an overall show, but WM 22 was more than satisfactory at the time, benefiting from a red-hot Chicago crowd.

9. WrestleMania XXVI

This doesn't receive a lot of praise just because Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon was a prolonged one-sided beatdown, despite it being unrealistic to really expect anything else. Toss that aside, though, and you have a card bursting with main event level talent, from Money In The Bank VI to the implosion of Legacy to Triple H vs. Sheamus to Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk to two enjoyable WWE and World Title matches. Oh, and the show ends with another classic between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, capping off a sensational build-up with a five-star battle that ends the career of Mr. WrestleMania himself, HBK, in the most captivating fashion imaginable. The final ten minutes of this match are as dramatic as those of any WWE match ever. Michaels' retirement arguably left a void which has still never truly been filled, at least on the grand stage of WrestleMania. Judging the show as a whole, though, WM XXVI definitely delivered.

8. WrestleMania 31

Perhaps WM 31 was so well-received because the anticipation for the card was so low. Many of the card's leading matches suffered from confusing or generally dull build-ups, topped by a main event between a champion who seemed to be heading out the door and a challenger who fans resented because he wasn't Daniel Bryan. But WM 31 was a brilliant show overall, with a fun Ladder match, a good Randy Orton-Seth Rollins match capped by a breathtaking RKO, a great piece of nostalgia which went from Sting vs. Triple H to WCW vs. WWF/WWE, a memorable if somewhat overrated segment involving The Rock, The Authority and Ronda Rousey, an entertaining Undertaker-Bray Wyatt bout and a brutal main event between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns which ended with Seth Rollins cashing in Money In The Bank. Add in the OTT entrances, the spectacular stadium setting and an enthused crowd, and you've got a four-hour thrill ride like few other Manias. There were no genuinely great matches, but from an entertainment standpoint, few Manias can top this one.

7. WrestleMania XXVIII

Once In A Lifetime and End Of An Era were the selling points for WM XXVIII. Promoted for a full year, The Rock vs. John Cena was the biggest WWE match in many years, and whilst it wasn't the greatest match ever execution-wise, it delivered enough thrills and spills to live up to the hype, and it boasted one hell of an atmosphere. Speaking of which, fans were mesmerised by the phenomenal storytelling and gripping action of The Undertaker vs. Triple H inside Hell In A Cell. The rest of the card was only adequate at best (CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho was good but not great, and Sheamus defeating Daniel Bryan in 18 seconds still riles up certain fans today). However, since half the show was taken up by Rock vs. Cena and Undertaker vs. HHH, and both delivered, it's hard to say that this wasn't a thoroughly enjoyable Mania.

6. WrestleMania III

From an in-ring standpoint, this was a one-match show via the classic Randy Savage-Ricky Steamboat showdown. But throw in the most famous wrestling match ever at the time (and many still say that its drawing power has never been topped) between Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant, culminating with that bodyslam, as well as Roddy Piper's (first) farewell match and several other significant bouts, all in front of the record-setting crowd inside Pontiac Silverdome, and how can you deny WrestleMania III as one of the most important Manias ever, thirty years later? If the first Mania truly put the WWF on the map, this was the show that established the WWF/WWE's standing as the world's leading wrestling promotion. That we got a classic match in the process was the icing on the cake. Nevertheless, Hogan-Andre is what everybody remembers WM III for, and arguably no moment in wrestling history has topped it since.

5. WrestleMania 21

Had the two main events matched the quality of the action earlier on the show, WM 21 would have taken top spot. As it is, JBL vs. John Cena and Triple H vs. Batista ended the show in disappointing fashion, but the double-header did crown the two new faces of WWE, providing real historic significance to the card. Then you have the classic Kurt Angle-Shawn Michaels battle, a sensational debut for the Money In The Bank Ladder match and two other strong battles in Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio and The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton (the first time that The Streak became a selling point of WM). Oh, and there were appearances by Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin and Roddy Piper. This immediately ended WWE's creative malaise at the time (well, nearly) and began a very memorable couple of years led by Cena and Batista. A superb all-round show.

4. WrestleMania XXX

The end of The Streak. The coronation of Daniel Bryan via the Yes Movement. An unforgettable segment involving Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin and The Rock. Nobody will ever forget the 30th anniversary of WrestleMania, with Brock Lesnar's pinfall over The Undertaker standing as probably the most shocking wrestling moment ever. Daniel Bryan's two matches against Triple H and Randy Orton and Batista (the latter under Triple Threat rules) culminated months of anticipation, albeit only because fan demand (and CM Punk's walk-out) forced it to become a reality. Seeing Hogan, Austin and Rock together at this point in time was surreal and very entertaining. Add to that some enjoyable undercard matches and moments, and you have a show that could hardly have been more historic. It lacked a truly classic match, but it had everything else in abundance to make this an all-time great Mania.

3. WrestleMania XIX

Held at a time when interest surrounding the WWE product was on the downturn, despite so many massive names being part of the fold, WM XIX reminded fans that WWE could still deliver one hell of a supershow. Although I don't believe that one specific match stood out above all others, at least four matches were on the next rung below the classic standard. Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar, hindered by Angle's neck injury and Lesnar's blown Shooting Star Press, was still a strong main event. Hulk Hogan vs. Vince McMahon was perhaps the biggest pleasant surprise in Mania history from an entertainment standpoint. Shawn Michaels returned to WrestleMania in a superb match against Chris Jericho. And whilst Steve Austin vs. The Rock is a shade inferior to their WM X-Seven showdown, it's still a great battle, and a fitting way for Austin to bow out of the wrestling ring. Had Triple H vs. Booker T been better and had the right outcome (Booker pinning HHH), this may well have cracked the top spot.

2. WrestleMania XXIV

This was the first Mania that I attended, so there's a bit of personal bias attached, but WM XXIV was still an amazing show. Ric Flair's WWE swansong opposite Shawn Michaels was the most emotional WWE match ever, with Flair delivering one last top-level performance despite being aged 59 at the time. The celebrity aspect was delivered by Floyd Mayweather and his compelling battle against Big Show. Then you have an underrated clash between Edge and The Undertaker which was fantastic, a belter of a Money In The Bank Ladder match and a good WWE Title three-way. The JBL-Finlay Belfast Brawl was surprisingly enjoyable too. All of this within the stunning Orlando open-air stadium setting, which will also host WrestleMania 33. In terms of an overall package, few Manias can top this, and as a full WrestleMania weekend, 2008 may have been the best ever (The Rock tore the house down at the Hall Of Fame prior to Ric Flair's memorable speech, and Flair received a touching retirement ceremony on the post-Mania episode of Raw).

1. WrestleMania X-Seven

As tempting as it may be to suggest that a more recent Mania has trumped X-Seven, it's impossible to deny that honour to a show which featured so many great matches. The Rock vs. Steve Austin was the best match of their legendary rivalry, and an all-time classic main event with a shocking conclusion. TLC II was a phenomenal stunt war which has never been topped since. The Undertaker vs. Triple H was another thriller, and Vince McMahon vs. Shane McMahon was a ton of fun. Add to that a nice slice of nostalgia via the Gimmick Battle Royal, a good Kurt Angle-Chris Benoit bout and comedy capers in the Hardcore Championship battle (some unintentional), all within a stadium setting, and you have a show that is not only well worthy of the WrestleMania name, but also one which acts as the last hurrah of sorts for the Attitude Era. If you watch only one Mania to get you in the mood for WM 33, it has to be this one. Oh, and My Way was the best WWF/WWE PPV theme song ever. Watch that Rock-Austin promo video (or the last 90 seconds of it, anyway) and tell me you don't want to go and watch that match immediately afterwards. And if you do, you're in for a treat.

Summary

So, there you have it: my personal rankings of all 32 WrestleManias to date. Some listings may be debatable, and my personal bias of having attended three Manias will probably have come into it somewhere. However, taking everything into account from March 31 1985 to April 3 2016, I feel this is the fairest list I can come up with. Let's hope that when all the dust has settled in Orlando, WM 33 will sit at the very bottom of this list at the #1 position should we revisit this task in 2018.

Predicting WrestleMania 33

Image Source: Wikipedia

Written By: Mark Armstrong

With WrestleMania 32 officially in the history books, the early speculation begins for WrestleMania 33. To be frank, the show isn't for nearly twelve months (obviously) and it will not even enter storylines until very late this year or in early 2017, but it's still interesting to consider what might go down on April 2 2017 at the Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Florida (which also hosted WM 24, which I attended).

I will base my predictions on the current roster and the most likely special guests at this point in time, since one cannot obviously not predict 100% who will be active a year from now (who imagined in early 2015 that AJ Styles would appear at the 2016 Mania?). So, here it goes ...

Main Event: The Undertaker vs. John Cena - Undertaker's retirement match

The match originally planned for WM 32 is bound to occur at Mania 33. By then, Taker will be 52 and even Cena will be almost 40. Therefore, this is probably the last realistic chance for a rarely-seen battle of headliners to occur. What's more, Undertaker has virtually nobody else to face now that Sting has retired, and given this and his age and physical condition, it's unfathomable that Undertaker will wrestle beyond WM 33. In fact, had Cena not been injured, it's entirely possible that Undertaker would have bowed out at AT&T Stadium.

The fact that this will be Undertaker's landmark final match ensures that it will be in the main event spot, and will be based on respect rather than a true grudge. I envision Undertaker announcing that he has nothing left to prove, only for Cena to come out and say "you've never beaten me at WrestleMania", or words to those effect. (Taker has beaten Cena in the past, but their last match was a Raw bout in 2006 which went to a non-finish; they last fought with a proper conclusion before Cena even won his first WWE Title in 2005.) Undertaker could win, but Cena winning wouldn't be a terrible result by any means given that Taker is bowing out after the match.

After the match, Taker and Cena will shake hands, with Undertaker giving his goodbyes to the audience whilst ever-so-slightly staying in character. The following night on Raw, Undertaker will get the big send-off with the entire locker room, the McMahons and many past faces coming out to give him an unforgettable farewell (in the same place where Ric Flair received such a ceremony, coincidentally). That will bring a fitting end to the incredible career of Undertaker, with Taker being the star inductee in the 2018 Hall Of Fame class.

WWE Title: Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose

The long-anticipated Shield three-way will go down at Mania for the WWE Title. By this point, I foresee that Roman Reigns will have turned full-on heel, and with a now-babyface Rollins and Ambrose both earning a WWE Title shot (perhaps by co-winning the 2017 Royal Rumble) to face Reigns and invoke a Shield implosion.

As for other potential options: I can see the long-awaited matches pitting Reigns against Brock Lesnar (in a rematch from WM 31) and the returning Seth Rollins against Triple H both occurring at SummerSlam 2016. And assuming that Reigns remains in the title picture for years to come, I predict that WWE will actually save Reigns vs. John Cena for WrestleMania 34 in 2018, which will be the official passing of the torch by Cena and by which point Reigns might have been accepted as a headline babyface following his expected 2016-7 heel run.

The Rock vs. Triple H

With HHH vs. Rollins occurring at SummerSlam, that frees Tripper up to face his old rival The Rock at WrestleMania 33. This was originally meant to happen in some form at WM 32, before film commitments prevented this occurring. Hopefully, WWE and Rock will have this one agreed on paper long before Mania 33 (if they haven't already) so that the match which was originally teased back in 2014 and at WM 31 will finally happen in 2017.

Brock Lesnar vs. Batista

This all leaves Lesnar without an opponent based on the current main event scene. I imagine that the Suplex City gimmick and Lesnar in general will feel stale by this point (I personally feel that this effect has already begun), so Brock will require an adversary who will force him to bring more of a fight. This is a quandary which could be resolved by bringing back Batista for a blockbuster showdown, a fitting description considering how Batista's movie career has been blossoming in recent years.

AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle

If Kurt Angle is ever going to have that one final WWE match, it surely has to be at WrestleMania 33. Orlando is an appropriate location, given Angle's long tenure in TNA. And AJ Styles would be a perfect opponent for Angle to deliver a classic match against an opponent with whom he is familiar, yet feels fresh for the WWE audience. Angle returning is not a guarantee by any means, but given Angle's age and physical condition (this is turning into a theme here), WM 33 is the last chance for it to realistically happen. And I bet Angle would jump at the chance, so it's up to WWE to make this a reality.

Women's Title: Sasha Banks vs. Bayley

As good as Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Paige are, to me there is only one option for a major, show-stealing Women's Title match at next year's WrestleMania, and that's Sasha Banks vs. Bayley, reigniting their classic women's matches at NXT Takeover events in 2015. Bayley will have debuted long before Mania, but this will be the stage for her to defeat Sasha and win the championship on the grandest stage of all.

Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens

The Viper appears to be ever-so-slightly winding down his career, although he is by no means finished just yet. He may wrestle further down the card, though, meaning that an up-and-comer could be his Mania calling card. I'm going for Kevin Owens, who I see winning Money In The Bank in 2016 and cashing it in on Raw the night after Mania, or even after the Shield 3-way at Mania, to win the WWE Title.

Finn Balor w/ The Balor Club vs. Bray Wyatt vs. The Wyatt Family

Finn Balor's future looks to be on NXT for the foreseeable future, but he will surely be on the main roster by 2017. And given his somewhat dark Demon persona that he occasionally unleashes on the NXT audience, a possible opponent for his first Mania is the even darker Bray Wyatt, with both backed up by their future/current factions of the Balor Club and the Wyatt Family. Finn will win here, and will begin working towards a main event spot after Mania 33, leading to a truly big match for Balor at WM 34 in 2018.

Intercontinental Title Ladder Match

The IC Title Ladder tradition will continue after successful bouts at WM 31 and WM 32. Predicting the entrants at this point is virtually impossible, other than to speculate that an NXT call-up will probably be entered and might just win the title (Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura are possibilities, or the recently called-up Sami Zayn). I also predict that, by Mania 33, the IC Title will have finally been unified with the United States prize since there is no currently no need whatsoever to have both titles.

Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Another tradition that will continue at Mania, WWE this year did the smart thing of using this to both launch a new star and deliver some surprise entrants, meaning that we'll probably get the same formula at WM 33. An NXT call-up will probably win this one too, and along with expected entrants like Big Show and Kane (who both must surely be approaching their final Manias, perhaps in 2018), there will be some surprises too. Could this match host a surprise comeback by Hulk Hogan in a match named after Andre, thirty years after the two titans met at WrestleMania III?

Miscellaneous

Any other matches would likely occur on the Kick-Off Show and/or would be impossible to predict at this point (e.g. the WWE Tag Team Titles held by The New Day could be around anyone's waists by Mania 33, possibly the American Alpha combo of Chad Gable and Jason Jordan from NXT). A tag match, a match involving the other women on the main roster and some sort of filler bout will complete the line-up from a match standpoint. As for legend combos, how about for Rock vs. HHH if we get Mick Foley and Shawn Michaels in the respective corners with Stone Cold Steve Austin serving as special guest referee?

Hall Of Fame 2017

As for the 2017 Hall Of Fame class, it's impossible to fully predict the group at this point. I do see The Rock and/or Daniel Bryan leading the way, and surely inductions are due for The Honky Tonk Man and Demolition, the longest-reigning Intercontinental and Tag Team Champions respectively in company history. As for the others, I predict Sable as the female inductee, Floyd Mayweather as the celebrity inductee (Mayweather's WM appearance was also in Orlando), and who knows who else will be in it? That being said, it would be great for Owen Hart and/or the British Bulldog to finally get the posthumous inductions that they have long deserved.

WrestleMania 33 could certainly have the potential to be a landmark show. From the retirement of a true icon to the (hopefully) injury-free roster to the new stars getting their Mania debuts to possible reappearances by former greats, WM 33 could end up being the biggest and most memorable Mania of them all. It is obviously too early to make accurate predictions, but all of the above matches (especially the triple main event) are more than feasible. And with WWE looking to deliver a momentous show to follow the record-breaking WM 32, this line-up would ensure that WrestleMania 33 stands out as one of the greatest Manias ever, if not the greatest.